While Barack Obama’s serial gaffes had a strangle-hold on my attention this week, I completely ignored the story of the ongoing lunacy being spouted from his church’s pulpit..

Personally, I consider Father Michael Pfleger’s oratory from this past Sunday at Obama’s Trinity United Church less striking than Jeremiah Wright's. Nevertheless, it’s still odd how Obama wound up in the company of so many people for 20 years whose true natures eluded him. By his own reckoning, the candidate is clearly a less-than-canny observer of human nature. I certainly hope he acknowledges this shortcoming before attempting mano-a-mano diplomacy with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadenijad.

Anyway, don’t take my word regarding Fr. Pfleger’s sermon. Judge for yourself. Click the video above or read the transcript below. Or do both – we’re all about options here:

I must now to address the one who says, 'Don't hold me responsible for what my ancestors did.' But you have enjoyed the benefits of what your ancestors did! And unless you are ready to give up the benefits — Throw away your 401 fund! [sic] Throw away your trust fund! Throw away all the money that been put away in the company you walked into 'cause your daddy and your granddaddy and your great grandaddy —

Unless you are willing to give up the benefits, then you must be responsible for what was done in your generation! 'Cause you are the beneficiary of this insurance policy!

[garbled] expose white entitlement. And supremacy, wherever it raises its head. I said before, I really don't want to make this political, because you know I'm really very unpolitical.

When Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on, I really don't believe it was put on. I really believe that she just always thought, 'This is mine. I'm Bill's wife. I'm white, and this is mine. I just gotta get up and step into the plate.'

Then out of nowhere came, 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama!'

And she said, 'Oh, damn! Where did you come from? I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!'

(mocks crying)

She wasn't the only one crying, there was a whole lot of white people crying!

I'm sorry. I don't want to get you in any more trouble. The live-streaming just went out again.

What I really like about this scandal is Fr. Pfleger’s apology: “I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama’s life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them.”

I’ve grown awfully fond of these non-apology apologies and the way they suggest that the fault lies not with the offender but with the offended. I think I’ll try one out this weekend with my wife: “Honey, I’m sorry if my failure to honor my promise to clean out the gutter has angered you, however inexplicable your anger might be.” If public figures are able to get away with such nonsense, I should be able to, also. I’ll let you know how it works.

(HT: Jim Geraghty, with a special thanks for doing the hard work in preparing a transcript.)